Top Ten Tips for Safe Trick-Or-Treating this Halloween
October 27, 2009 by SafeKidsUtah
Filed under Seasonal
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and many kids will be out late trick-or-treating while it is dark – making it harder for drivers to see them. Whether you are a driver or a parent, you can do your part to help kids stay out of the emergency room on Halloween.
Top five safety tips for children walking on Halloween:
- Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Slow down and stay alert – watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
- Young children should trick or treat with an adult. Children younger than age 12 should not cross streets at night without an adult. If older kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without adult supervision, parents should make sure they go in a group and stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
- Costumes can be both creative and safe. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so choose non-toxic face paint and make-up whenever possible instead. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as be seen by drivers.
Top five safety tips for drivers on Halloween:
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods and school zones. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Slowly and carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.
- Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances. Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
In preparation for Halloween, 150 local Safe Kids coalitions across the country will team up with Walk This Way program sponsor FedEx to provide kids with reflective materials to promote visibility, including trick-or-treat bags and zipper tags that can be attached to costumes, as well as important safety information for children, parents, and drivers.
FedEx and Safe Kids USA have been working together for 10 years to educate children, parents, teachers and motorists across the country about walking safely and preventing pedestrian-related injury to children.
For more tips on how to help kids become safer pedestrians on Halloween, as well as throughout the year, visit our Halloween page.
Safe Kids Utah Offers Safety Tips for Amusement Park Rides
August 3, 2009 by SafeKidsUtah
Filed under It's Summer..., Seasonal
Thrill rides can be both exciting and safe if certain practices are followed
Whether it’s flying through the air or spinning in circles – there’s something about a summer day at an amusement park that draws people of all ages. Safe Kids Utah believes that staying safe and having fun can and should go hand in hand.
Parents need to use their own judgment. Posted age and height requirements are minimal guidelines. Following the rules is also important. If a ride operator tells you to keep your hands and feet inside the car, hold the handrail or remain seated, there’s a good reason for doing that – it helps make the ride safer.
Every year, an estimated 8,000 children suffer injuries from amusement park or carnival-type rides that require treatment in an emergency room. These injuries involve fixed rides, mobile rides, inflatables and other types of rides at amusement parks, festivals, traveling carnivals and other locations.
Portable carnival rides are subject to safety regulations enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Amusement park rides at a fixed location are not subject to federal safety standards. Parents and caregivers need to decide whether their children are capable of sitting properly on a ride and following the operator’s instructions.
Parents can follow these tips to help keep amusement park and carnival rides safer for children of all ages:
Role-model proper safety behavior. Children are more likely to follow safety rules when they see their parents doing so.
Supervise your child getting on and off a ride. Make sure the child understands all announcements and posted rules. Also, parents should practice active supervision. Don’t allow older children to supervise younger children on rides.
Always use the safety equipment provided. Safety belts, lap bars, chains, handrails and other safety features are there for a reason.
Be careful when getting off a moving ride. Wait until the ride comes to a complete stop. Also, if a ride stops due to a mechanical problem or safety concern, stay seated and wait for instructions.
Don’t let children ride if they’re too tired or scared to comply with safety procedures. On some rides, it’s important to stay upright and face forward. Don’t pressure kids to go on a ride they’re afraid of, as they’re more likely to sit incorrectly or even try to get off.
Note the limitations of safety devices. Lap bars and chains are not physical restraints — their main function is to remind the occupant to stay seated. If a small child sits next to a large adult, a lap bar might not offer the child much protection.
Trust your instincts. If a ride looks like it is poorly maintained or an operator seems to be inattentive or unfit, don’t let your children ride. As in any industry, while most operators pay close attention to safety, there are exceptions.
To find out about the law in Utah, please visit: http://www.saferparks.org/regulation/state.
Join Safe Kids Utah in Celebrating Safety this July
August 3, 2009 by SafeKidsUtah
Filed under It's Summer..., Seasonal
Fireworks Injure 2,600 Kids Each Summer
The Fourth of July and Pioneer Day are a time for celebration across Utah – fireworks are a crowd favorite each year. Whether at a professional show or in the backyard, fireworks can be fun to watch – but they can also be very dangerous.
In 2007, an estimated 2,600 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks during the fireworks season, which runs from the middle of June until the middle of July. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 40 percent of the people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
“Don’t ever let kids play with fireworks, period,” says Christi Fisher, Safe Kids Utah Director. “They’re intended for use by adults in open spaces and children should watch from a safe distance with plenty of adult supervision to make sure they don’t get too close.”
As with any activity involving hazardous equipment, keep all children under active supervision at all times and give them your undivided attention. “The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch them at a community event where professionals handle them,” says Fisher.
Safe Kids Utah recommends these precautions for adults using fireworks:
Light fireworks only on smooth, flat surfaces, and aim them away from spectators, buildings, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
Do not try to relight fireworks that malfunction.
Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or hold them close to your face.
Visit www.recalls.gov to make sure the pyrotechnic devices you are using are not subject to any safety recalls.
Do not modify fireworks or use homemade fireworks.
Keep a phone handy, and know first aid for burns. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.
Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. “Teach your children how to call 911 in an emergency. Also teach them what to do if their clothing catches on fire – ‘stop, drop and roll,’” adds Fisher.
Many pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Utah. Where permitted by law, fireworks should be handled and used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all warning labels.
For more information about fireworks safety and burn prevention, contact or visit www.utahsafekids.com.
Safe Kids Utah works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. Safe Kids Utah is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Utah was founded in 1995 and is led by the Utah Department of Health.
